After arriving in Bhubaneswar, hire a taxi to Ratnagiri. If you make prior bookings, you can have the hotel arrange a pick-up from the airport. Spend this day resting, or head out for light exploratory walk around the area.

The word ‘Ratnagiri’ literally means ‘a hill adorned with jewels’. Perhaps it was the crowning glory of the Pushphagiri Mahavihara and, the largest of the Buddhist monastic settlement found in this area. ASI excavation under the supervision of D.Mitra unveiled the magnificent monasteries, stupas, temples, and votive stupas from under the earth. The Ratnagiri Mahavihara flourished most from the 5th to the 11th century AD in art, architecture and learning. The votive stupas are eloquent proofs of the fact that more than ten thousand students were under the tutelage of Ratnagiri during this time. A sharp decline occurred 13th century onwards perhaps due to lack of royal patronage and because of Muslim invasions in India. Still, it is believed to have survived till 16th century AD. A small trek uphill from the entrance gate took us to the votive stupas. The amazing stone votives with inscriptions and figures stood in neat rows, the distance between them being exactly the same! It’s a wonder with how much precision and accuracy these were made. It is said, students were supposed to build a votive to symbolize the successful completion of learning.We, the modern erudite people couldn’t even dream of paying such wonderful adulation to our alma-mater.A narrow pathway led us to the main monastery. The green field on one side was resplendent with wildflowers. The existing relics here speak of the magnificence of the monastery. A large stone courtyard lies in the middle with monastic cells all around the porch. The intricate designs of the entablature attest the glory of the Vihara in its heydays. Directly opposite to the entrance towards the rear end of the courtyard, there is a cell housing a huge statue of Lord Buddha in the Bhumisparsha Mudra. Two male figurines are there on either side of the statue with lotuses and chamars (fans) in their hands. Perhaps this served as an altar. Huge heads of Buddha, statues of Tara, Jambhala, and several other sacred Tantric deities are strewn all over the place. You can feel the awe, the excellence, and the wonder of Ratnagiri here.Standing in the middle of the huge courtyard, with the vast blue sky above, it seemed history came alive to us. It gave me a shiver down the spine to think of those days when India was one of the most revered countries of the world. The giant Buddha head besides the entrance looked like as if it was healing us from the core. Those lotus eyes still shine with mercy and love spreading ahimsa. You are bound to feel the magic when you’re in Ratnagiri, the divine essence dominating all devilish spirits around. The lush green freshness will rejuvenate your eyes and mind, the somber serenity will provide you a somnolence. The Tantric Buddhist monks wisely chose these places to attain enlightenment through learning while Mother Nature carefully curved her beauty here to match the soulful illumination. I’ve witnessed the past in glimpses of the present. The opulent architecture, the mesmerizing scenic beauty will be in my mind forever.P.S. There is an air-conditioned museum in Ratnagiri housing over 3000 artifacts that have been excavated from the site is also a must visit.This trip was originally published on Scattered Thoughts.

The 70 km road journey from Cuttack to Ratnagiri made us (me and my sister) a bit tired and, after reaching the resort, we decided to take some rest. But, we just passed into a deep slumber post lunch only to wake up in the evening. The next day, early in the morning, we started our journey for the excavated sites. Taking a cue from the map, we decided to start with the farthest one first, the Lalitgiri.Lalitgiri:“Look within. Be still.Free from fear and attachment,Know the sweet joy of living in the way”

PuriThe very first char dham located in East on the bank of Bay of Bengal is famous for its ‘Rath yatra’. Also serving as one of the four ‘mathas’ established by Adi Guru Shankaracharya, this is the only temple where brothers Lord Jagannatha and Lord Balbhadra are worshipped along with their sister ‘Subhadra’. This 1000 years old temple has been constructed by Raja Choda Ganga Deva and Raja Tritiya Ananga Bhima Deva.

Puri is one of the four holy pilgrimage site for Hindus. The Lord Jaganatha Temple here is visited by millions of pilgrims every year. But there's more to Puri than just the temple. The long sandy beaches are perfect for a romantic stroll and the marijuana, which is legally sold here, has been attracting tourists since ages! Head out to this pilgrimage site to discover a beach town that isn't crowded by your usual tourists.

The Journey to the "Land of Jagannath". Puri is one of the most holiest places in India & is considered as one of the biggest pilgrimage hub of Eastern India. In Puri there are a lot of places where one can visit and satisfy there inner soul for a proper spiritual and devotional voyage. The main attractions in Puri are the "Jagannath Mandir", which is more than 1000 years old.

Perhaps that’s why tickets were booked minutes after I saw her text. We decided to take the weekend off, and scrapped out the Monday from the weekdays. It was one of those passionate emotions where affection overpowered work, and we were going to Puri. The destination is very common for a Bengali (like us) but the companion was different! This was our first (somehow) big trip, and we were excited; a little apprehensive because this trip had to be anonymous, but we had to take the leap. A booking app gave us amazing discount at a beach side guest house, and we were sorted. Then began the wait.I was never fascinated in planning (as my trips always are just a backpack) but I realized there is a special charm to post-trip plans! Especially when your girlfriend does them, and you get to listen to all her elaborate plans, and questions about what would we wear, and (most importantly) what would we eat! Blessed am I because she is a stoner as well, and she successfully maintained the hype with all her plans and apprehensions! We discussed the places we were to visit, where to try good seafood, as well as minor details like what I should pack. It had been two complete years we have known each other, and there was no room for any mishap! The journey hadn’t yet commenced, but memories already started coming in!Come the day, and I was boarding the evening train to her place from where we would proceed to our destination. I arrived next morning, picked her up and had a tea at a roadside stall before taking the bus to Puri. Getting to Puri is pretty easy, it is well connected by train to the entire country, and it is a pleasant two hours of drive from the nearest airport at Bhubaneswar. One generally gets a plethora of hotels and resorts to pick from once they arrive, but I prefer doing my reservations prior to arrival (specially when I am travelling with someone); it’s neater for me that way.

6) Puri: 35 K.M.s away from Konark, lies another temple town on the shorelines of Bay of Bengal. Considered as one of the holiest cities, Puri is visited by the people and pilgrims all year round. The beach here is clean and the sand, golden.

Puri is one of the favorite holiday destinations for pilgrims, beach lovers and Bengalis of-course! I have visited the place with my parents thrice! Now, to be honest, if you're looking for a peaceful and relaxing beach escapade, then this is not the place for you! The beaches are crowded 12 months a year and aren't very clean. But if you want to have a fun time with the family, cram down some samosas and mishtis on the beach, feast on prawn malai curry, crab masala and vegetable pulao, then you're gonna have a gala time here! October to February is the ideal time to visit Puri because rest of the year the place is as hot as a furnace!So the place I'm gonna share my experience about is the famous Jagnnath temple. My last visit to Puri was in the month of June, 2014 at the time of the popular rath yatra! My grandfather was getting all dramatic that its his last is wish to witness the rath yatra(the actual last one was eating jalebi :P), so we took a four day trip to Puri.

I came down to Odisha for a friend’s wedding. I had already thought of keeping a day to travel and explore Puri. I booked a taxi early morning at 6 am from Bhubaneshwar. Puri is about 60 kms away from Bubaneshwar. It was wonderful to go on a long drive to Puri with fog all around and experiencing the sun rise.

Shree Jagannath Temple in PuriPrimary reason for this trip to Odisha was to visit Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri with which I completed the Char Dham Yatra of India.I took a flight from Delhi to Bhubaneshwar(capital of Odisha) and left for Puri(80 Mins drive from Bhubaneshwar)directly from the airport.

For me surreal came to life at Puri Beach a couple of years ago. It will always be one of my cherished moments. We as a group had just managed to convince the policeman to let us stroll the beach and promised we would not be a nuisance. A few minutes of dipping our feet in the Puri waters and we saw the water come to life with small shiny particles across. These first shined a little and then a little more and after a while in its full glory. The effect these had on the water was similar to that of the Bioluminescent Plankton, but these were not planktons. They were small very fine particles. I attempted picking one on my fingertip, it stopped glowing. My heart skipped a beat, did I just kill a life unknowingly. Thankfully, I hadn’t. The minute you dip your hand back in the water, the particle would shine again. I am still to find what they are exactly called and if they are regularly seen at Puri. But, for the longest time, this would be my best beach memory.Each beach has a night lullaby to sing.

Start your exploration of the culturally-rich state with the Hotwar State Museum in the capital city Ranchi that gives an insight into the lifestyles of the tribes and explore the collection of paintings, carvings, and bow and jewelry in its 10 sections. In the art village of Amadubi, 65 kilometres from Jamshedpur, Pyatkar paintings, cultural dance performances, and local dishes give you a taste of rural Jharkhand.

After good food we left towards our home, Jamshedpur. The road in Jharkhand was pretty bad as most part was either under construction or were very uneven. The humps, bumps and jerks made us realize that we have entered Jharkhand . Also advisable that the route is not safe at late night and should be avoided as far as possible. We too got too late due to the bad road condition and reached Jamshedpur at 12 : 45 pm at night.The scenic beauty all along was beautiful and the most beautiful part for the trip is Andhra Pradesh, esp Rajahmundry that has amazingly beautiful nurseries along the highway. This part was covered on our return trip as while coming it was dark and we couldn't really see the green all along AP. Overall, the farms, the trees, the road, the food (esp at Odisha and AP ), scenery and the diversity of culture that we saw along the highway and places that we halted left us with beautiful memories and amazing feeling. Shared below the photos while returning.

Sit back and relax on the rocky beach,watch the spectacular sun rise and take a walk amidst the palm trees. The red crabs , shoreline stretching into the infinity,and the waves would provide you the much needed respite from work. Serve yourself with exotic seafood, fish delicacies and local Bengali cuisine in the form of Pomfret, Rohu, Bhetki, Fried Fish and Tiger prawns.Watch the breathtaking sunrise at the Old Digha sea beach to kick start your weekend.

Digha, a weekend escape every bengali loves to go and loves to lost in the sound of waves. One saturday I with my friends planned to go one of my friend's place at Jaleswar. By evening our plan to enjoy the sea at Digha was made. Few kilometers away from Mohanpur by car we reached Digha. Digha beaches are the oldest ones and quiet favourite place among every bengali. Digha brings you the calmness of the sea in its quiet beaches. When we reached by evening high tide was going on, giving yourself to the serenity we were lost in the sound of waves, the cool breeze and the beautiful red sky. The rising water was too playing with us, everytime we keep our shoes and belongings on the beach and getting busy with sea, few minutes later we found our shoes being floating in the waves and we would again keep them more away to avoid being washed away. The joy it bringing made us forget all our daily worries. The mighty sea had taken all our city commotions. Time was passing with every wave. Sitting on the stones at the beach and seeing the orchestra of waves will make your soul like listening to unheard music of nature. The waves were just like the music player organised in studio, the clashing of waves, one wave repelling back from shore and another coming to the shore. Hours can be spend watching this orchestra of waves.

This sea-side city is located around 200 kilometers away from Kolkata. Being an extremely popular destination, it is generally a good idea to make your bookings in advance. Don't be fooled by the number of hotels you will have the chance to choose from. Most of these will be booked way in advance during the peak season, or a long weekend. Seek out beaches that are less crowded. Try the fried fish that the locals sell. Stock up on sea shells. Follow the trail left behind by crabs. Sip on coconut water like a true tourist while lazing under an umbrella on the beach. There was a time when the average Kolkatan's weekend getaway to the seaside always spelled out Digha. But slowly, with the rise of Mandarmani and Shankarpur- two new sea-side towns, Digha has faded into the background. But it is still worth a visit, and the popularity of new places means that you might just be able to find that peace and quiet that you are looking for on your weekend getaway.

The most popular beach of Bengal. It's very crowded usually but you got to find the right places to be. Digha is now Old digha and new digha. Although very commercialized by now, the charm of eating fried fishes by the beach hasn't ceased to exist for an average bengali guy!

There are two beaches at Digha: the old one and the new one, which is usually known as New Digha. Two days are enough for this place as the place doesn't have much to offer but beaches. The water is choppy and swimming doesn't really look like a good option here as the beaches seem deceptive at times. Although, it can be a good weekend getaway near the beach.

An architectural masterpiece, built centuries ago, the Sun Temple in Konark stands proudly as one of the most iconic structures in Odisha. Designed in the shape of a chariot, with seven stone horses and 12 massive wheels, this temple is where you get to experience how our ancestors combined religion and science effortlessly. The temple is built to carry the Sun God to heaven and therefore the first light in the morning falls on the front of the temple and the last ray of sunlight in the evening passes through the entire temple before vanishing!

5) Konark: The temple gets its name from two Sanskrit words, ‘KONA’ and ‘ARKA’ which translate to corner and sun respectively. The Konark temple is an architectural slpendour of the Medieval time in Orissa. Built in the 13th Century, the architecture of the temple is very complex and the walls are covered with intricate carvings that reflect the magnificence of the artisans that sculpted the temple. The Konark temple is said to have been built on the sea in those days. Over the years, the sea has moved farther and the temple is now approximately 5kms from the shore.

We are at the east coast of India near Konark,Odisha where the ocean is crashing at it's ends and the red sun is coming up on the horizon.At early dawn,it is the world of sleepless mad souls and soulful creatures in search of solitude,people seeking things that they neither know of nor understand when they see it.The darkness of the night tiptoes away to reveal distant fishing boats returning from the revelries of the overnight fishing at sea.They look like black ghost ships mingled with the mist of the upcoming spring on the horizon. Earth is turning over once again to light and hope of another day.Two other fishing folk arrive on their rickety bicycle and throw around the net over the shallow waves on the beach and get lucky with crabs caught unaware .One of them shows me a big one,dangling from it's fingers.

Konark is situated in the Puri district of the Indian state Orissa. Apart from Taj Mahal, if there is another monument that symbolizes India it is the majestic Sun Temple at Konark. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage. This temple made Konark one of the most visited towns in Orissa. The temple is dedicated to Sun God. The Temple is in the form of a Chariot with wheels on the sides of the platform on which the temple stands. The walls of Sun temple have carvings both inside and outside. Do travel to Konark to see it in all its splendor.

Not being a sea food lover this was the first time that I saw so many varieties of fishes. Being hungry we ordered a few prawns, stingrey and pomfret (one that I learnt to eat in my Chandipur trip). Fresh, fried and best.Note: Don’t miss trying these here, they cook it for the customers there in front of you and they have a huge variety.

When the city life gets too much to bear, you can visit one of the best places to visit near Kolkata within 200 kms – Bakkhali. This quaint beach town is located on the West Bengal coast. Take a short trip to Bakkhali and indulge in the local cuisine of the area. The seafood is fresh from the sea. The place is famous for its long stretches of clean beaches which you can have all to yourself if visited during off season. This place is fuss-free and travellers can enjoy the solitude Bakkhali is known for. Bakkhali derives its name from the word bak, or red-beaked seagull which can be found in the area. Best things to do: Soothe your mind by relaxing on the quiet, white-sand beaches, visit Bishalakshmi Temple and Crocodile ParkWhere to stay: Hotel Deepak, Hotel Dolphin BakkhaliHow to reach: WBTC has regular bus service from Dharmatala to Bakkhali. The nearest railway station is Namkhana(25km). There are regular trains from Sealdah. From Namkhana station you will get a van rickshaw to reach the place from where you need to cross a narrow creek in a small boatDistance from Kolkata: 126kmRead More About Bakkhali Tourism Guide.

This crescent-shaped beach in the deltaic region of the Sundarbans is the southernmost point on the map of beaches in West Bengal. The island is one of the many deltaic islands in the region, some of them connected by bridges. The waves lapping on the shore at sunset, a warm breeze and infinite blue sky are some sights to behold. The hard terrain of the Bakkhali Beach makes it perfect to cycle around this island.How to reach: The distance from Kolkata to Bakkhali is 125km. Covering the distance by car takes only 4 hours.

The best thing about Bakkhali is the beach. It's peaceful, non polluted and free from hawkers and noisy tourists. The Fraserganj and Bakkhali beaches are side by side and Fraserganj is even more peaceful. The beach has a typical fishy smell which takes time to get used to. There are no hip hop restaurants or shacks or water sports facility here. But that's the reason you come to Bakkhali. To be in peace with yourself.
Best thing here is to lie down or sit on a chair and read novels. Or chat with your family. Or discover love with your spouse. The afternoons can be a bit hot. So best time to take a stroll is early morning and evening.

It's a seaside resort in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. It is located on one of the many deltaic islands spread across southern Bengal. This place offer salubrious surroundings to the tourist where he/she can sit near the beach and sip coconut water. The main attractions are Bakkhali Beach, Henry's Island and Frazergunj.

Somehow talking about Red Crabs reminds me of Mr. Krab and Krabby Patty from Spongebob Squarepants, and I am a Fan! :p Mandarmani is a secluded beach village which opened to tourists quite recently, thus helping keep its natural beauty intact. It is a hub for innumerous red crabs otherwise rarely found in India. I hired a “toto” for the local place visits and requested the driver to take me where I could find the maximum crabs and he took me to a river shore, a little ahead of Mohana(Confluence of the river and sea). I was ecstatic to find the shore full of these cute crabs as they played “Hide and Seek” with me. They would just chill on the beach and as I would go closer, all would run back to their holes. I somehow caught hold of a few and got myself a few clicks!

Mandarmani is situated at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal. Its 13km long beach which is argued to be the longest motorable beach stretch in India holds the greatest attraction. Its calm waters with low waves make it ideal to wallow in all day long. The entire calm which descends upon this place is enough to rejuvenate your spirits.Best things to do: Chill by the Mandarmani beach. If you're an adventure-seeker, you can indulge in activities such as ATV ride, jestski, sea boat, para-sailing, bump-boat, banana boat. Since it's a drive-in beach, you can drive your car on the beachWhere to stay: Sunview Resort, Aqua Marina Drive InnHow to reach: Catch a bus from Esplanade or Howrah headed for Chaulkhola, or any bus headed towards Digha. From Chaulkhola there are cycle-rickshaws and auto-rickshaw which you can take to Mandarmani. The nearest railway station is at Digha(30km)Distance from Kolkata: 171kmRead More About Mandarmani Tourism Guide.

Mandarmani is a seaside resort village in the state of West Bengal, India, lies in East Midnapore district and at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal. It is one of the large and fast developing seaside resort village of West Bengal.

Mandarmani is a 13-km long stretch of beach at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal. It has been a well-kept secret of visitors from in and around West Bengal, who often arrive here for silent romantic getaways. The soothing touch of the wind in your face on motorable stretch along the beach is a perfect way to unwind on the weekend. Before heading there, however, visitors must enquire about the high tide on the beaches of West Bengal.How to reach: A 3-hour long drive from Kolkata via Contai will take you to Mandarmani. The nearest railhead is at Digha Station, from where you can find local transport to the beach.

12 km from Kanthi, this spectacular beach is named after thousands of red crabs that crawl on the sands resembling the 'Mandar' flowe. It is emerging as a very popular destination with every passing year.